The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-21
MIR. BEECHER AT GLASGOW.
A Great and Successful Struggle with an
Audience of Opponents.

A Great and Successful Struggle with an
Audience of Opponents.
John Laird Wilson. in Brooklyn Eagle.
Mr.. Beecher was evidently somewhat in doubt
as to what success might attend him on the
Glasgow platform and with Scottish audi
ence He began, l remember, by referring to
some of the characteristics of the city in which
he found himself. dwelling upon its mechan cal
celebrity, and of it's being the scene of the
triumph of James Watt, man whose genius
had revolutionized the world. He spoke of
Scotland more generally. and of the character
istics of her children, claiming that her excel
lent training made them invaluable wherever
they went His own church was indebted TO
Scotland. Some of his most valued members
Scottish; and his famous Sabbath-school
had Scotsman a Mr.. Boil, for its superintend-
emit
Mr. Beecher had already more than once called
forth the applause of the house. AT this stage
the applause loud and long. Believing that
he might now make a venture, he launched forth
into his subject Scarcely, however. had he
uttered half q dozen sentences when he struck
the prejudices of the audience, and the Kisses
and howlings far exceeded, in their vigorous
preston, the previous applause This was Liv
erpool over again.
Mr.. Beecher paced the platform good natur-
eddy and waited till the noise subsidized. He came
again to the edge of the platform, and put the
audience into good humor by some jocuar
mark. Quick as lightning he has again laid hold
| Of his hearers and has them cheering him to the
| echo, as he descants on the merits of Robert
| Burns, Quotes from ''Tam O'Snantern from
1.-THE Cotter's Saturday Night" and from ''For
a. That and a That" and characterzes Burns as
| the poet of humanity.
| The transition was easy from Burns and hui
mainly to the subject which was most at his
| heart, and Mr.. Beecher. before his audience is
! fully aware of it, has uttered some pregnant
| sentences regarding the rights and the wrongs
| of the American struggle
| AS il half angry with itself for being thus
| caught the audience gives way to a burst of I'M
| controllable Kissing and howiing But somehow
the kissing is less vlruent-the bowling less vio-
/ lent. One almost feels if there is an element
| of good nature in both. 1t is, however, another
| defeat for the orator. but he takes it good ma
turedly, as before lis it worth while trving
any more!" many are asking. Mr.. Beecher is
not of that number. On the contrary he is
! girding himself for another and supreme eff
| fort
| At this stage the Rev. William McDougall of
| Paisley. a friend sitting by my side himself an
/! orator OF no mean description, a man who had
| shared the honors on many memorable occa-
| sion with Fred Douglass and George THOMPSON
| when both were at their best said to me: THAT
| is marvellous work. That man can beat us all
He has conquered this audience already Vic
! tory is within his grasp, and the fellow knows
| it."
But Mr.. Beecher has to try again. To this
| third round he comes up more CHEEKY and more
radiant than After some good natured
banter he is leading his pleased and fiattered
|
ply. Hutchinson, Reid Adam Smith, Sir Will
| lam Hamilton-he has a fitting word for each.
There is no philosophy he said like the Scottish
philosophy. 1t is by way Of distinction the
philosophy of common sense. He went on to
| show how il had spread over the entire civilized
| world-how much America owes to it--how its
principles properly interpreted secured liberty
and good laws generally; and, without hating
for appreciation. and while the audience was
almost at white heat under the fervor of his
eloquence, he made some telling points with
tremendous force, getting out really all that il
was necessary to say
The climax reached. the audience rose almos.
to man, and burst forth into the most tumultu
Gus applause. Such a had rarely beer
witnessed in the City Hall Of Glasgow, and il
had been the scene of many oratorical tri
umph. The victory was complete. When the
applause subsidized, Mr.. Beecher, with a GOODNESS
and audacity which have never seen ap
preached, but with smiles all over stepped t
the front of the platform and said, Gentlemen
Hiss now VIII you2" The audience rose again
The applause louder than ever. It was
magnificent triumph of oratory Mr.. Beechel
proceeded with his subject, discussing it Will